Electric food mixer or the like



March 28, 1950 D. WALLACH 2,502,239

ELECTRiC FOOD MIXER OR THE LIKE Filed Dec. 6, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 i:INVENTOR. flu/Q12 i/lmfi M flu law lTTOR/VEYS l. D. WALLACH 2,502,239

mc'mxc FOOD MIXER OR THE LIKE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 March 28, ,1950

Filed Dec. 6, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC FOOD MIXER ORTHE LIKE Irving D. Wallach, Port Washington, N. Y.,-usigner toAssociated Development and Research Corporation, New York, N. Y., acorporation of New York Application December 6, 1947, Serial No. 790,157

4 Claims. (Cl. 74-46) This invention relates to an improved power driventool for domestic or culinary use.

Although the invention is not limited to such use, it is expected thatit will find great utility as a domestic appliance having means formixing and beating foodstuffs, chopping and grinding meats and the like,and scouring and polishing. Devices of this general class, are, ofcourse, well known. Presently, however, such appliances attachment headto drive the same, said unit, when removed from the attachment head,being itself adaptable to receive and drive tools.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a domestic appliancein which beaters, bufiing wheels and other accessories may be mountedfor operation in an attachment head supported on a base structure, oroptionally may be mounted for operation in a power transmission unitreinclude a motor which is a part of the attachl movable from saidattachment head. ment head to which the various accessory tools It isyet another object of the invention to proare affixed; and to provideportability to make it vide a food mixer or the like, having improvedpossible, for example, to mix or beat materials means for supporting abowl and for adjusting while they are cooking, the motor and attachsaidbowl relative to the mixing tools. ment head unit is removably supportedupon a Other features and advantages of this invenstand or base. Themotors of such units, are, of course, relatively heavy, and it is tiringto hold and use the appliance when it has been detached from its stand.Such provisions as are made for attaching a scouring brush or the likeare impractical because the units are clumsy and clillicult tomanipulate effectively.

The present invention provides a truly portable tool in which the motoris independently supported remote from the attachment head. A novelpower transmission unit driven by the motor is removably aflixed to theattachment head to drive the main shaft thereof; and said powertransmission unit is itself adapted to retion will be apparent from thefollowing detailed description thereof and reference to the accompanyingdrawings in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of thetool attachment head on its supporting column. and showing in dottedline the rearwardly swung position of said head. In Fig. 1 the powertransmission unit has been detached.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the power transmission unit and theindependently supported drive motor, said unit having afiixed thereto atool representing a bufiing wheel, scouring brush or the like.

Fig. 2a is an end elevation of'the motor, lookceive and operate scouringbrushes, heaters or the n in the direction of the Switch and peed like,when removed from the attachment head. control means thereof.

When the apparatus is to be used for mixing, Fig. 3 is an end elevationof the attachment meat chopping, etc. the power transmission unit head.is placed in driving relation to the tool attach- Fig. 4 is a verticalsectional elevation of the ment head, which is mounted on a basefixture, tool attachment head of Fig. 1, the power transand theapparatus is used in conventional fashmission unit being in operativeposition therein. ion. If it is necessary to mix or beat viscous Fig. 4ais a detail, in section, showing the foodstuffs cooking on the stove, orbeing cooled manner of affixing a drive key to the attachin a cold waterbath for example, the tool attachment head main shaft. ment head withheaters aflixed and the power Fig. 5 is a side sectional elevation ofthe power unit in position may be removed from its suptransmission unit,the clutch being disengaged. porting standard and taken to the stove orsink; Fig. 6 is an end sectional elevation of the said the motor remainsin its mounting fixture or unit taken on lines 6-6 of Fig. 5. may beremoved therefrom and placed on a Fig. 'I is a plan view of the base ofthe suptable or other surface adjacent the work. The porting stand, withthe column thereof in sec user is therefore not burdened with the weighttion, and disclosing the lateral turntable adjustof the motor. On theother hand, if thin sauces ment means. or the like are to be stirred,pots scoured, or Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional detail showingsilverware buffed, the power transmission unit the mounting of the toolattachment head upon may be removed from the tool attachment head, thebase column, and

the appropriate tool fitted, and the task com- Fig. 9 is a verticalsectional elevation looking pleted as desired. in the direction of thearrows 9-9 of Fig. 8.

It is therefore an object of the invention to Referring to the drawings,a presently preprovide a power driven tool having portability ferredembodiment of my invention comprises and adaptability not present incontemporary a base to on which is removably and swingably devices ofthe type. mounted an attachment head 30. Removably as- It is anotherobject of the invention to provide sociated with said attachment head isa power a power driven tool in which a power transtransmission unit 10connected by means of flexmission unit is removably associated with atool 0 ible drive shaft H with a motor I20.

The base In has a platform provided with an elongate slot l2 withinwhich rides a femalethreaded sleeve l4 carried by a slide IS, an end ofwhich (see Fig. 'I) slidably extends into a suitable pocket provided inthe column l6 fixed, to base l0. Sleeve |4 receives a stud H on which aturntable i8 is rotatably supported.

Referring now to Fig. 4 it is seen that an end of slide l extendsbeneath a clamp plate 20, one end of which is aflixed to the column I6.The said column is angularly bored to receive in screw-threadedrelationship a clamping bar 2|, a rounded or tapered end of whichengages with the end of the clamp plate 20. Clamp bar 2| terminates inan externally accessible knob 22 and it will be apparent that when saidknob is rotated to retract pin'2| relative to the column l6, pressureupon plate 2|! is relaxed and the slide |5 can be moved to the right orleft of Fig. 4 within the limits of slot I2. After adjustment of theslide |5 the clamp bar 2| is again tightened to cause the plate 20frictionally to engage the top of the slide l5 to secure the same in itsnew position. Slide |5 therefore makes it possible to adjust turntableI8 and the bowl B carried thereon with respect to the column so as toposition the contents of the bowl in the most advantageous position forbeating or mixing. The angle of engagement of bar 2| with plate 20provides a very strong clamping pressure.

As shown in Fig. 9 the upper end of column l6 has spaced side walls 23,23 affixed to which are the aligned pivot studs 24, 24. At the base ofsaid spaced side walls, and extending inwardly from the forward wallthere are abutments 25 and extending from the rear wall of said column(see Fig. 8) and disposed centrally of the abutments 25, 25, is a thirdabutment 26. F

The tool attachment head 3|) has a body or housing 3| extending from anend of which is a standard 32. Said standard has spaced side walls 33(see Fig. 3) which with the base wall 34 define a completely openpassage which removably receives the unit 10 as-later described. Asshown in Fig. 3 the lower portions of the side walls 33 are inwardlyoffset to fit between the spaced walls 23 of the column l6 (see Fig. 9)and said lower side walls are each provided with an open-ended angularslot 35 for cooperation with a pivot stud 24. The base of said standard32 has shoulders 36 extending downwardly therefrom, and said shouldersengage with the abutments 25 when the standard is rotated clockwise ofFig. 4 so as to support said standard and the thereon carried at achmenthead in the angular position indicated in Fig. 1. It will be understoodthat-the amount of clockwise rotation permitted by the coop ratingmembers 36 and 25 is suflicient to permit the shifted center of gravityof the attachment head 30 to maintain the same stably in said angularposition. Standard 32 also has, integral therewith or affixed thereto,an abutment 31 which engages with shoulder 26 to support the attachmenthead 30 in the Fig 4 position, in which the longitudinal center line ofsaid attachment head is in horizontal position.

A handle 36 is suitably aflixed to the housing 3| of the attachmenthead. By rotating the attachment head rearwardly until the notches 35are in a substantially vertical position the entire attachment head maybe lifted out of engagement with the column l6. Conversely the head maybe restored to the columns by engaging the notches 35 with the studs 24,dropping the attachment head until the studs fit within the notches 35and then rotating the head either rearwardly until its shoulders 36engage withthe abutment 25 or forwardly until abutment 31 engages withthe member 26 of column l6.

It will be seen from Fig. 4 that housing 3| of attachment head 30 ishollow and is provided with a spacer member 40 non-rotatably affixedtherein. Said spacer receives a bearing 4| for the main shaft 42; therebeing an aligned bearing sleeve 43 at the opposite end of housing 3|.Suitably secured upon shaft 42 as by a spline 44, are a worm gear 45 anda bevel gear 46. The worm gear drivingly engages a gear 41 suitablycarried on a transverse shaft 48 journalled in gear box 50 affixed tothe housing 3|; said transverse shaft 48 provides a side power take-oilpoint, (see Fig. 1) to which a meat grinder or chopper, not shown, orother high-torque demand accessory may be attached.

Gear 46 is in continuous mesh with agear 52 suitably secured to the endof a vertical shaft 53 which is journalled in a bearing sleeve 54 fixedwithin a support bushing 55 disposed within the vertical passage 56provided in handle 36.

Said-gear 46 is also in continuous engagement with a gear 5] fixed toshaft 66 journalled in a bearing 60 in gear box 50. A hearing sleeve 6|also affixed within gear box 50 supports shaft 62 which carries a pinion63 engaging a pinion 64 driven by gear 51. It is apparent that mainshaft 42 drives the respective shafts 48, 53, 58, and 62. Gear or speedratios may be as necessary or desirable.

The tubular ends of shafts 42, 53, 58, and 62 constitute sockets withinwhich are keyed and frictionally held the shafts or shanks of accessorytools such as the heaters 65 shown in Fig. 4. Obviously separate socketsor other tool-attachment means may be utilized. The shaft 53 isprimarily for a fruit reamer, a juicing bowl (not shown) being adaptedfor support in bushing 55. Shaft 42 will operate a grinding wheel,buffer, or the like, (not shown). Beaters 65 are power driven and may beapplied at the most advantageous position within the bowl B by shiftingsa d bowl relative to the column l6, or raising the turntable bypartially unscrewing stud l1.

As shown in Fig. 4a, an end of shaft 42 is necked down and externallythreaded, and is diametrically slotted to receive a flat key" 66 havingcars 61. An elongate nut 66 threads'onto shaft 42 to secure key 66 inplace. The outside diameter of nut 68 is equal to the main diameter ofshaft 42, and shaft of power unit 1|) telescopes thereon to engage ears6'! as later described.

Power transmission unit Ill (see Figs. 5 and 6) has a substantiallycylindrical barrel portion 12 which fits relatively snugly within thesuitably shaped socket 69 at the end of the body member 3| of attachmentunit 30. The tapering end 14 of said barrel seats within the socketprovidcd in the spacer 40 and the pistol grip handie 13 fits snuglybetween the spaced side walls 33. The unit 1|) is removably locked inhousimz 3| by means such as the spring pressed plunger 69a which engageswithin a hole or notch 14a in the barrel portion I2. It will be notedthat the tapering end 14 of said barrel will cam the plunger upwardly asthe unit 10 is inserted within the housing 3|, but that it is necessarymanually to raise the plunger 63a when it is desired to remove the unitfrom the housing.

The unit 16 comprises the means for transmitting power to shaft 42.Although it is not 5 necessary for the unit to include clutch means,because the motor I20 has a starting and speed control switch, greatpractical advantages result when the unit is clutch-equipped so that theoperation of the accessory tools may be controlled independently of themotor.

The sheath of drive cable H has a flanged end as shown in Fig. 5 and isclamped by nut 15 to a fitting 16 secured within barrel portion 12. Saidfitting carries a bearing bushing 11 within which rotates the maleclutch element 18, the socket portion of which drivingly receives thesplined or otherwise suitably shaped end 80 of the flexible drive shaft.Clutch member 18 has a suitable plurality of clutch jaws 82. Preferablythere is interposed between the rear face of the clutch jaw member and aflanged end of the bushing 18 a suitable thrust hearing 83. The femaleclutch jaw 84 has sockets 85 for cooperation with the projections 82 ofthe clutch member 18. The driven shaft 86 is journallecl in the bearingbushing 81 and projects within the barrel 88 of clutch member 84. Shaft86 is socketed and has a plurality of diametric slots 86a to drivinglyengage the ears of key 66 on shaft 42 as unit 10 is inserted intohousing 3|; as shown shaft 86 flts over nut 68. A ball 9| provides athrust bearing between the cylindrical ends 89 and 90 respectively ofshafts 86 and 8|. Shaft 86 is provided with a flange 92 between whichand the flanged end of bushing 81 is a thrust bearing 98. It will beseen, therefore, that shaft 86 is held against movement to the right ofFig. 5 by the abutment of ball 9I against projection 90 of shaft 8|, andis held against movement to the left of Fig. 5 by the ball bearing 93.One end of the clutch member 84 is arranged to receive the drive pins 94the reduced diameter ends of which ride within slots 95 formed in thewall of shaft 86. A ring 96 having radial openings to freely receivepins 94 is secured to clutch member 88 to afford suitable support forthe pins.

Rotatably carried within the barrel 12 is a sleeve 91 within which theclutch member 84 fits slidably. Sleeve 91 has a flange 98 which ridesfreely within the slotted end portions of clutch shift lever I 00, saidlever being pivoted as at IOI within the handle 13 of the unit. An endof sleeve 91 is inwardly turned to provide a pocket within which iscontained a coil spring I03, the opposite end of which bears against ashoulder provided on clutch member 84 as clearly appears in Fig. 5. Itwill be noted that said inturned end I02 bears against drive pinretainer 96.

Within the handle 13 there is rotatably mounted a square cam I05, thecentral portion of which comprises an eight-toothed ratchet I06. It willbe noted from Figs. 5 and 6 that lever I is forked to provide two arms,I01, between which the ratchet I06 is contained. Each of the arms I01has a flat area I08 intermediate the ends of which is a shallow notchI09 within which the respective corners of the cam I seat when the camis rotated to cause the clutch members to engage. Pivotally supportedwithin the handle 13 near the base thereof is a trigger lever IIO whichhas a fingerpiece III projecting through a suitable opening in the sidewall of the handle 13. The fingerpiece is arranged to pivotally receivea pawl II2 the end II3 of which is in operative relationship to theteeth of ratchet I06. A spring II4 seated within a suitable pocketprovided in lever H0 and engaging an was extension provided on pawl H2urges said pawl in counterclockwise direction so that its driving endrests normally on the surface of the ratchet suitably intermediate theteeth thereof.

A relatively strong coil spring H6 seats within a pocket provided in thelower end of lever H0 and engages with a suitable projection secured toor formed on the lower leg II1 of lever I00. The reaction of spring II6urges lever IIO counterclockwise until its wall seats against the innerwall of the handle 13. Spring III; also urges lever I00 intocounterclockwise rotation.

In Fig.5 it will be noted that the clutch members are disengaged. Theoperator grasps the handle 13 as he would a pistol and by finger squeezeagainst the flngerpiece III rotates lever H0 clockwise until the end ofpawl Il2 engages with a tooth of ratchet I06, whereupon thecounterclockwise rotation of cam I05 induces a clockwise rotation oflever I 00. at this time being compressed and as the square corner ofcam I05 comes into registry with notch I09 the reaction of spring I I6causes notch I09 to smartly engage the corner of the cam, said notchtherefore functioning as a detent. The engagement of the forked end ofthe respective arms I01 with the flange 98 of sleeve 91 results in amovement of said sleeve to the right of Fig. 5 and the compression ofspring I03 resulting therefrom induces movement of clutch member 84 tothe right until at the stage wherein a corner of cam I05 is seatedwithin the notch I09 the respective clutch members 84 and 18 are inengagement and (assuming the motor to be in operation) the shaft 86 isdriven. At this stage it is preferable that the flange I02 be just outof contact with the surface of the pin support ring 96. When the unit isto be declutched pressure is again applied to fingerpiece III whereuponthe cam is rotated through 45 and the reaction of spring II 6 brings thelever arms I01 smartly into contact with the fiat of cam I05 and ofcourse drives the sleeve 91 to t e left of Fig. 5. The end I02 of sleeve91 engages with the side of the pin ring 96 and moves clutch member 84out of engagement with member 18.

It will be noted from Fig. 4 that the dimensions of the handle 13 andthe standard 32 are such that when the unit 10 is within the attachmenthead the fin erpiece III projects beyond the wall of standard 32 and iscompletely accessible for operation by the user in the manner abovedescribed.

When unit 10 is in position its tubular shaft 86 drivingly engages theend of shaft 42 and power is therefore transmitted through theillustrated gearing to the respective attachment devices.

The motor I20 is provided with a conventional switch and speed controldevice I2I whereby the speed best suited for proper operation of aparticular tool may be selected by the user. Sad motor is also providedwith a bodypart or clamp I22 formed with the base members I23 as shownin Fig. 2a. Said base members may engage with the side walls of a Wallmounted bracket I24 or may themselves serve to support the motor whenthe same is removed from the bracket and placed on a table or counter.

Except for the meat grinder, all of the tools or attachments useful withthe tool attachment head 30 may be inserted into the tubular end of theshaft 86 of the unit 10 upon removal of such unit from the attachmenthead. For example, one of the heaters 65 may be inserted within shaft 86and the device used to mix or whip foodstuffs Spring I I6 is may beassociated with shaft 42 is equally adapted for association with shaft86 when portability is required.

It will be understood that the device is not restricted to domestic use.For example, a suitable drill chuck (not shown) may be inserted intoshaft 00, whereupon the unit may be employed as a power drill; said unitand attached motor I20 may be used in the machine shop or garage forexample, independent of the attachment head 30.

Thus, among others, the several objects of the invention as afore-notedare achieved. Obviously numerous changes in construction andrearrangement of the parts might be resorted to without departing fromthe spirit of the invention as defined by the claims.

I claim:

1. In a domestic food mixer and the like the combination of anattachment head having a main shaft and auxiliary shafts driven thereby,said shafts having means to receive and drive accessory tools; a powertransmission unit having a barrel portion and handle means extendingtherefrom, said attachment head having a housing portion to removablyreceive said transmission unit therein; a clutch in said barrel portion;clutch actuator means in said handle means; a shaft in said barrelportion and mechanically connected with one element of said clutch, saidshaft, when the transmission unit is within said housing portion,engaging with said main shaft to drive the same; a motor; and a flexibledrive cable connecting said motor and another element of said clutchmeans, whereby the shaft of said transmission unit may be driven by, ordisengaged from, said flexible shaft by actuation of said clutch; saidtransmission unit, when removed from said housing being itself adaptedto receive and drive an accessory tool.

2. In a domestic food mixer and the like, the combination of anattachment head having a main shaft and auxiliary shafts driven thereby,said shafts having means to receive and drive accessory tools, said headhaving a housing portion provided with a relatively large socket inaxial alignment with said main shaft; 9, power transmission unit havinga barrel portion insertable into said socket and a handle portionextending angularly with respect to said barrel portion, a clutch insaid barrel portion and ineluding elements movable into and out ofengagement with each other; a shaft connected to one of said elementsand engageable, when said unit is in position within said socket, withthe main shaft of said attachment head to drive said shaft; a motor; aflexible drive shaft connectin said motor and another of said clutchelements; and means disposed within said handle and having actuatormeans accessible externally thereof to operate said clutch; saidtransmission unit being itself constructed to receive and drive anaccessory tool when removed from the socket of said housing.

3. In a domestic food'mixer or the like, a base having a columnextending upwardly therefrom; an attachment head having a main shaft andauxiliary shafts driven thereby, said shafts hav- 8 ing means to driveaccessory tools, said head having a housing portion and a standardextending angularly therefrom, said housing portion and said standardformed to provide an openended socket; means on said standard forreleasable securement to said column to support said attachment headrelative to said base; a power transmission unit having a barrel portionand a handle portion extending therefrom, said portiom fitting into thesocket provided by the housing and standard of said attachment,

head, said transmission unit being removable from said socket; a clutchin said barrel portion and including elements movable into and out ofengagement with each other; a shaft in said barrel portion connected toone of said clutch elements and engageable, when said unit is inposition within said attachment head, with the main shaft thereof todrive said shaft; a motor: a flexible shaft connecting said motor andanother of said clutch element; and means disposed within said handleand having actuator means accessible externally thereof, and externallyof said attachment head standard, to

operate said clutch; said attachment head having handle means by whichthe head may be held when removed from the supporting column.

4. In a domestic food mixer and the like, the combination of anattachment head having a main shaft and auxiliary shafts driven thereby,said auxiliary shafts having socketed end portions to receive the shaftportions of accessory tools, said attachment head including a housingportion having an open ended socket; a power transmission unit adaptedto fit within said socket and having a shaft engageable with said mainshaft in telescoping relation therewith to drive the same; aspring-biased latch means engageable with a pocket provided on saidtransmission unit to secure the same within said socket, said unithaving a sloping end portion engageable with an end of said latch meansto move the same into position to drop within said pocket upon insertionof said unit into said housing; a motor; a flexible shaft connectingsaid motor and said transmission unit shaft to drive the same; a bracketfor mounting said motor; and means on said motor engageable with saidbracket to releasably hold the same thereon, said last named meansaffording a stable base for said motor when removed from said bracket.

IRVING D. WALLACH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,094,442 Hoerr Apr. 28, 19141,879,004 Altorfer- Sept. 27, 1932 1,975,949 Jeppsson Oct. 9, 19342,372,862 Strauss et al Apr. 3, 1945 2,381,770 Overly Aug. 7, 19452,390,742 Setterlund Dec. 11, 1945 2,427,099 Kennedy Sept. 9, 19472,438,465 Strauss et a1. Mar. 23, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number CountryDate 47,557 Switzerland Mar. 27, 1909

